Latest news with #O'Dea
The National
a day ago
- Sport
- The National
Celtic man's classy farewell involving Lawwell and Michael Nicholson
The Irishman recently departed his role as Professional Player Pathway Manager at the Parkhead club to join Swansea City as assistant to Alan Sheehan. O'Dea took to social media platform X after his Celtic exit was confirmed, outlining the roles of Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson, Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers, Paul Tisdale and Chris McCart played in his time as a coach and then pathway manager. Read more: He said: "It's time to take another step in my career, which means leaving the club I love. "I've had an incredible time and been given the best education, and there are so many people I'm grateful to. "Peter, Michael, Ange, Brendan, Paul are just a few and a special mention for Chris McCart, who's always supported me so much. I'll just be a fan again, and I can honestly say the club is in a great place and the people there make it what it is - family. "Not a 'goodbye' but a 'see you again'." O'Dea spent six years as a player at Celtic before rejoining the club in 2019, initially as under-19s manager. "I am delighted," he told after taking up his new role in Wales. "I knew of the interest and I spoke with Alan [Sheehan] a number of weeks ago. "Obviously, I have been with a club I have grown up in, so it was difficult to come to terms with the decision in terms of leaving, but once I spoke to him and had an insight into what the club is wanting to do, I wanted to join. "I had a good understanding of the club anyway, but it's a really exciting project, one I wanted to be a part of, and I am delighted it is done now. "I would not have left Celtic unless it was for something I felt very strongly about. Of course, the club and its prestige and the intensity of it is something I am used to, and I wanted to work with and for Alan. "You combine those two things, and the conversations I have had with other people at the club who will be working with us, and it just fits. It's something I am really happy to be part of."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Swansea to appoint Celtic's O'Dea as assistant boss
Swansea City are close to finalising a deal to make Celtic's Darren O'Dea their new assistant boss to head coach Alan Sheehan. In March, Sheehan added former team-mates Richard Stearman and Mark Fotheringham to his backroom team on short-term deals. But after being appointed Swansea's head coach on a permanent basis, Sheehan said further changes to his staff were likely during the close season. He has been targeting his fellow Irishman O'Dea since taking over as Swansea's interim head coach in February. The 38-year-old is currently on Celtic's staff under former Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers. As a player, O'Dea represented the likes of Celtic, Reading, Leeds United, Blackpool and Dundee as well as having spells in Canada, Ukraine and India. Dublin-born O'Dea won 20 caps for the Republic of Ireland having played international youth football in the same sides as Sheehan, who is also 38. O'Dea began his coaching career at Motherwell before returning to Celtic in 2019. He was initially under-18s boss before stepping up to take charge of Celtic B in 2021, and became player pathway manager in 2024.
The National
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Talks 'advanced' for key Celtic figure to join Championship side
O'Dea, who made 62 appearances for the Parkhead outfit as a player, is currently the club's Professional Player Pathway Manager. Read more: He has been headhunted down south, though, and Swansea are said to be close to reaching an agreement with Celtic for the Irishman to become assistant manager to new boss Alan Sheehan. Talks are at an advanced stage, claims Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph. UPDATE: Swansea City are close to an agreement to appoint Celtic pathways manager Darren O'Dea as their new assistant boss at the end of the season. The 38yo is wanted by Swansea to be new boss Alan Sheehan's No2. Talks have reached an advanced stage and an agreement is close. — Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) May 13, 2025 O'Dea was previously in charge of Celtic's B team. He took up the Player Pathway role in April of last year. Addressing his potential exit last week, first team boss Brendan Rodgers said: "I spoke to Darren yesterday on that. "He came to see me and get my thoughts on what that would be, what it would look like. "Obviously, I know Swansea as a club and a city better than most. "So, yes, I think that there may well be a possibility of him to go as a coach. I think in his heart, he still sees himself as that. "Probably the role he's in now is probably only do-able at a club like Celtic. But I think his heart is in coaching and maybe the possibility to manage later on." "So, yes, he just asked my opinion on it. And, yes, so we'll see what happens on that."
The National
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Rodgers details chat with Celtic figure amid exit reports
The Irishman, who made 62 Celtic appearances, is currently the club's loan and player pathway manager. It has been reported today that Swansea have headhunted O'Dea and provided him with a 'big offer' to move to the side as an assistant coach. Rodgers spent two years in charge at Swansea, leading the club into the English Premier League. Read more: He has since discussed O'Dea's potential move down south: "I spoke to Darren yesterday on that," said Rodgers. "He came to see me and get my thoughts on what that would be, what it would look like. Obviously I know Swansea is a club in the city, better than most. So yes, I think there may well be a possibility of him to go as a coach I think. "In his heart, he still sees himself as that. Probably the role he's in now he'd probably only do that at a club like Celtic. But I think in his heart is in coaching and maybe the possibility to manage later on. "So yes, he just asked my opinion on it. So we'll see what happens on that." O'Dea moved into coaching at Motherwell in 2019, but it was only a matter of months before a return to Celtic as under-18s manager. He then went on to work with the B team, first as a coach and then as manager, before a switch to his current role, where he has worked closely with head of football operations Paul Tisdale. He played in Republic of Ireland youth teams around the same time as Swansea boss Alan Sheehan, but was the only one of the two to graduate to full international honours, capped 20 times. O'Dea is highly rated as a coach and has been linked with managerial vacancies at other clubs in Scotland over the years.
Wales Online
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Swansea City plotting raid on Celtic as Alan Sheehan eyes highly-rated coach
Swansea City plotting raid on Celtic as Alan Sheehan eyes highly-rated coach The Swans boss is set to refresh his coaching team ahead of next season Celtic's Darren O'Dea Alan Sheehan is keen on naming Celtic coach Darren O'Dea as his new assistant manager. The Irishman is poised to reshape his backroom team this summer, having previously brought Mark Fotheringham and Richard Stearman on board as assistant coaches during his successful interim reign. Sheehan has since been handed the Swans job on a permanent basis, and has already admitted there will likely be changes to his coaching staff ahead of the new season, with the future of the pair seemingly already uncertain. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here It's understood O'Dea has long been a top target for Sheehan, who made an unsuccessful attempt to bring his countryman on board during his temporary spell. However, the move failed to materialise due to the uncertainty around Sheehan's own position. Now, having penned a three-year deal, the Swans boss has revisited the move, and is determined to bring the 38-year-old on board. Article continues below O'Dea is currently professional pathway manager at Parkhead, but is a highly-rated coaching prospect, having taken charge of the Celtic B team before taking on his current role in April. Capped 20 times by the Republic of Ireland, he began his coaching career at Motherwell, before returning to Celtic, where he started his career as a player. O'Dea has reportedly been on the radar of several other Scottish sides in the past, but opted to stay on the green side of Glasgow. However, it seems a move to the Championship could now be on the cards, as Sheehan ramps up his attempts to mould a coaching team ready for the new season. "That's a process that's ongoing," Sheehan said when quizzed on his backroom line-up recently. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone "Obviously I brought Mark and Richard in. They've bought in and they've been outstanding, they really have. They've dedicated their lives to the football club for this period, which is I kind of needed. "They gave me their word and lived up to it and have exceeded my expectations. "Kris O'Leary and Marge with me and the two lads, there's been a really good bond. In terms of moving forward, though, I think it's a process and I think there might be changes with the lads I've brought in, in terms of moving forward. Article continues below "But that will something announced in the coming weeks."
